U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
M A R C H
2 0 1 4 R E P O R T
1 0 4 6
Consumer Expenditures in 2012
2012; far below the 3.5-percent increase in spending. In
2011, prices increased by 3.2 percent, which was close
to the 3.3-percent increase in spending that year. The
remainder of this report highlights consumer spending
patterns for 2012 from the CE. (For more information
on the Consumer Expenditure Survey, see the technical
notes at the end of this report.)
Developments in 2012
C
onsumer spending increased by 3.5 percent,
based on 2012 data from the Consumer
Expenditure Survey (CE). This is the second
consecutive year that expenditures increased after 3
consecutive years of declining expenditures. Consumer
units’ (CUs) average annual expenditures increased
from $49,705 in 2011 to $51,442 in 2012. With this
increase, the 2012 level surpassed the 2008 spending
level of $50,486. Most of the rise in expenditures in
2012 was due to a rise in incomes from 2011 to 2012.
Average annual income before taxes increased 3.0
percent; from $63,685 in 2011 to $65,596 in 2012. This
is much higher than the 1.9-percent increase in 2011.
Prices, as measured by the average annual change in the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U,
U.S. city average, all items) rose by 2.1 percent in
During 2012, consumers increased their spending in all
but 1 of the 7 major categories of expenditures tracked:
food, housing, apparel and services, transportation,
healthcare, entertainment, and personal insurance and
pensions. (See table A.) This is in comparison to 2011
when consumers increased their spending in all of the
major categories. In 2012, expenditures increased by
a range of 0.5 percent for housing to 8.5 percent for
transportation. Apparel and services was the only major
category for which spending decreased in 2012 (–0.2
percent). The increase in transportation expenditures
CONTENTS
Developments in 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Expenditure shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Housing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Vehicle purchases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Statistical Tables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Technical Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Brief description of the Consumer Expenditure
Survey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Interpreting the data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Tables and data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Other available data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov1 CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Table A
Average annual expenditures by major category of all consumer units and percent changes,
Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2009–2012
Item
2009
2010
2011
2012
Percent change
2009–2010
2010–2011
2011–2012
Number of consumer units (in thousands)
120,847
121,107
122,287
124,416
...
...
...
Consumer unit characteristics:
Income before taxes
Age of reference person
$62,857
49.4
$62,481
49.4
$63,685
49.7
$65,596
50.0
-.6
...
1.9
...
3.0
...
Average number in consumer unit:
Persons
Children under 18
Persons 65 and older
Earners
Vehicles
Percent homeowner
Average annual expenditures
Food
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other food at home
Food away from home
Alcoholic beverages
Housing
Shelter
Owned dwellings
Rented dwellings
Other lodging
Utilities, fuels, and public services
Household operations
Housekeeping supplies
Household furnishings and equipment
Apparel and services
Transportation
Vehicle purchases (net outlay)
Gasoline and motor oil
Other vehicle expenses
Public and other transportation
Health care
Entertainment
Personal care products and services
Reading
Education
Tobacco products and smoking supplies
Miscellaneous
Cash contributions
Personal insurance and pensions
Life and other personal insurance
Pensions and Social Security
2.5
.6
.3
1.3
2.0
66
$49,067
6,372
3,753
506
841
406
656
1,343
2,619
435
16,895
10,075
6,543
2,860
672
3,645
1,011
659
1,506
1,725
7,658
2,657
1,986
2,536
479
3,126
2,693
596
110
1,068
380
816
1,723
5,471
309
5,162
2.5
.6
.3
1.3
1.9
66
$48,109
6,129
3,624
502
784
380
679
1,278
2,505
412
16,557
9,812
6,277
2,900
635
3,660
1,007
612
1,467
1,700
7,677
2,588
2,132
2,464
493
3,157
2,504
582
100
1,074
362
849
1,633
5,373
318
5,054
2.5
.6
.3
1.3
1.9
65
$49,705
6,458
3,838
531
832
407
715
1,353
2,620
456
16,803
9,825
6,148
3,029
648
3,727
1,122
615
1,514
1,740
8,293
2,669
2,655
2,454
516
3,313
2,572
634
115
1,051
351
775
1,721
5,424
317
5,106
2.5
.6
.3
1.3
1.9
64
$51,442
6,599
3,921
538
852
419
731
1,380
2,678
451
16,887
9,891
6,056
3,186
649
3,648
1,159
610
1,580
1,736
8,998
3,210
2,756
2,490
542
3,556
2,605
628
109
1,207
332
829
1,913
5,591
353
5,238
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
-2.0
-3.8
-3.4
-.8
-6.8
-6.4
3.5
-4.8
-4.4
-5.3
-2.0
-2.6
-4.1
1.4
-5.5
.4
-.4
-7.1
-2.6
-1.4
.2
-2.6
7.4
-2.8
2.9
1.0
-7.0
-2.3
-9.1
.6
-4.7
4.0
-5.2
-1.8
2.9
-2.1
3.3
5.4
5.9
5.8
6.1
7.1
5.3
5.9
4.6
10.7
1.5
.1
-2.1
4.4
2.0
1.8
11.4
.5
3.2
2.4
8.0
3.1
24.5
-.4
4.7
4.9
2.7
8.9
15.0
-2.1
-3.0
-8.7
5.4
.9
-.3
1.0
3.5
2.2
2.2
1.3
2.4
2.9
2.2
2.0
2.2
-1.1
.5
.7
-1.5
5.2
.2
-2.1
3.3
-.8
4.4
-.2
8.5
20.3
3.8
1.5
5.0
7.3
1.3
-.9
-5.2
14.8
-5.4
7.0
11.2
3.1
11.4
2.6
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov
CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
can largely be attributed to the 20.3-percent increase in
vehicle purchases.
With the increase in average annual expenditures (3.5
percent) being higher than the increase in average income
before taxes in 2012 (3.0 percent), this increase in spending
coincided with a rise in consumer confidence. Consumer
confidence levels increased a little in 2012, as reflected by
the Consumer Confidence Index of the Conference Board,
which registered an average level of 67 in 2012, up from 58
in 2011.1 (The level is an index, with 1985 = 100. Levels of
100 or more reflect consumer optimism.) The improvement
in consumer confidence may be in part due to a small, but
gradual decrease in the unemployment rate in 2012. The
unemployment rate, although lower, still remained above
prerecession levels. According to the Current Population
Survey (CPS), the average monthly national unemployment
rate was 8.1 percent in 2012, lower than the average rate
of 8.9 percent for 2011. The number of long-term (over 26
weeks) unemployed individuals, although declining from
6 million in 2011 to just over 5.1 million in 2012, was still
higher than prerecession levels. In addition, this slight
increase in consumer confidence may also be reflective
of the gradual economic recovery, as evidenced by the
2.2-percent increase in real GDP in 2012.2
Expenditure shares. Table B provides the percent
distribution of total annual expenditures by major
expenditure categories for all consumer units, from 2009
to 2012. Expenditure shares usually do not fluctuate
much in the short term and thus are more useful for
identifying spending trends over time. As in previous years,
housing is the largest component of overall expenditures,
accounting for 32.8 percent of total expenditures in
2012. This was followed by transportation (17.5 percent)
and food expenditures (12.8 percent). The most notable
change in expenditure shares was in vehicle purchases,
which increased to 6.2 percent of total expenditures in
2012, compared with 5.4 percent in 2011. In contrast, the
expenditure share on shelter decreased to 19.2 percent in
2012, from 19.8 percent in 2011.
Housing. Spending on housing increased slightly in all but
the third CU income quintile in 2012. The highest income
quintile exhibited the largest increase in spending on
housing (1.3 percent), from $29,321 in 2011 to $29,705 in
2012. (See table 1.)
Homeowners continued to report declining expenditures
on mortgage interest and charges; a trend since 2007.
Homeowners spent 18.3 percent less on this component of
housing in 2012 ($4,735) than they did in 2007 ($5,799).
This is likely the result of the continuing trend of lower
interest rates, which has been in place since the recession
of December 2007—June 2009.
In addition, although the recession led to an overall
trend of fewer CUs owning homes, results from the
CE showed an increase of homeowners from 79.4
million in 2011, to 79.9 million in 2012. However, this
is still below the prerecession level of 80.2 million
homeowners in 2007. Concurrently, there has been an
increase in renters since 2007. In 2012, there were 44.5
million renters, compared with 39.9 million in 2007.
According to the CPI-U, rents for primary residences
have increased 10.9 percent since 2007. During that
same time span, the average annual rental payments
reported in the CE increased 14 percent ($8,812 in 2012,
compared with $7,732 in 2007), reflecting the increase
in demand for rental units.
Vehicle purchases. Expenditures on vehicle purchases
increased significantly in 2012, following a smaller
increase in 2011. CUs spent 20.3 percent more in 2012
($3,210) than they did in 2011 ($2,669). Within this
increase, spending on new cars and trucks increased
by 29.5 percent while spending on used cars and
trucks increased by 13.2 percent. Despite this increase,
expenditures on vehicle purchases remain below the
prerecession level of $3,244 in 2007. Chart 1 shows the
correlation between changes in expenditures on vehicles
and prices of new and used motor vehicles between
2007 and 2012. For the most part, change in consumer
spending was more volatile than price change. From
2007 and 2008, annual consumer spending on vehicles
dropped significantly while prices dropped modestly.
Spending on vehicles continued to decrease until 2011,
when the increase in spending (3.1 percent) was higher
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov3 CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Chart 1
Spending and price percent changes on vehicle purchases, Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE),
Consumer Price Index (CPI), 2007–2012
Percent Change
CE Vehicle purchases (net outlay)
CPI-U New and used motor vehicles
25.0
20.3
20.0
15.0
10.0
3.9
5.0
2.7
0.2
0.0
-5.0
3.1
-1.1
-1.4
-3.6
-5.2
0.8
-2.6
-10.0
-15.0
-15.1
-20.0
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Source:
of of
Labor
Statistics.
Source:U.S.
U.S.Bureau
Bureau
Labor
Statistics.
than the increase in prices for new and used vehicles
(2.7 percent).
Vehicle purchases increased by double digits in every
income quintile in 2012 with the highest increase (32
percent) occurring in the fourth income quintile. By
age of reference person, all but one age group (55 to
64 years old) increased spending in 2012. The biggest
increase was in the 65-to-74-year-old age group (61.1
percent), followed by the under-25-years age group (38.6
percent). It should be noted that vehicle purchases data
can be volatile due to the lower reporting rate of vehicle
purchases. However, the vehicle purchase reporting rate
was similar from 2011 to 2012, suggesting consumers
were buying more expensive vehicles.
Expenditures by income quintile: From 2010 through
2012, all five income quintiles increased expenditures.
4
However, chart 2 shows that there was a shift in the
annual change in overall expenditure levels among income
quintiles, between 2011 and 2012. From 2010 to 2011, the
lowest (first) income quintile increased expenditures by
5.0 percent and the second income quintile increased by
6.0 percent. Conversely, the highest (fifth) income quintile
increased expenditures by 1.8 percent. From 2011 to 2012,
the highest income quintile increased expenditures by 5.1
percent whereas the lowest two quintiles had small increases
of 0.7 percent for the lowest quintile and 1.7 percent for the
second quintile. Within spending categories, the two highest
income quintiles both increased expenditures on food,
apparel and services, and education, whereas the two lowest
quintiles decreased in these categories. The biggest increase
between 2011 and 2012 was in education where the fourth
income quintile increased expenditures by 26.5 percent
and the highest income quintile increased expenditures by
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov
CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Table B
Percent distribution of total annual expenditures by major category for all consumer units,
Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2009–2012
Spending category
Average annual expenditures
Food
Food at home
Food away from home
Alcoholic beverages
Housing
Shelter
Utilities, fuels, and public services
Household operations
Housekeeping supplies
Household furnishings and equipment
Apparel and services
Transportation
Vehicle purchases (net outlay)
Gasoline and motor oil
Other vehicle expenses
Public and other transportation
Health care
Entertainment
Personal care products and services
Reading
Education
Tobacco products and smoking supplies
Miscellaneous
Cash contributions
Personal insurance and pensions
Life and other personal insurance
Pensions and Social Security
2009
2010
2011
2012
100.0
13.0
7.6
5.3
0.9
34.4
20.5
7.4
2.1
1.3
3.1
3.5
15.6
5.4
4.0
5.2
1.0
6.4
5.5
1.2
0.2
2.2
0.8
1.7
3.5
11.2
0.6
10.5
100.0
12.7
7.5
5.2
0.9
34.4
20.4
7.6
2.1
1.3
3.0
3.5
16.0
5.4
4.4
5.1
1.0
6.6
5.2
1.2
0.2
2.2
0.8
1.8
3.4
11.2
0.7
10.5
100.0
13.0
7.7
5.3
0.9
33.8
19.8
7.5
2.3
1.2
3.0
3.5
16.7
5.4
5.3
4.9
1.0
6.7
5.2
1.3
0.2
2.1
0.7
1.6
3.5
10.9
0.6
10.3
100.0
12.8
7.6
5.2
0.9
32.8
19.2
7.1
2.3
1.2
3.1
3.4
17.5
6.2
5.4
4.8
1.1
6.9
5.1
1.2
0.2
2.3
0.6
1.6
3.7
10.9
0.7
10.2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
31.5 percent. This was primarily due to increases in college
tuition expenditures.
Food: Expenditures on food increased for all but the
lowest two income quintiles in 2012. This differs from
2011, when food expenditures increased in all income
quintiles. In 2012, the fourth income quintile registered
the largest percentage increase in food expenditures,
an increase of 4.9 percent from $7,466 in 2011, to
$7,831. This reflected a 5.3-percent increase in food at
home spending and a 4.4-percent increase in food away
from home expenditures. The first and second income
quintiles had decreases in overall food expenditures of 1.3
percent and 2.9 percent, respectively. This contrasts with
increases of 7.2 percent (lowest quintile) and 10.6 percent
(second quintile) in 2011. The decrease in food spending
for the lowest income quintile was spread evenly among
the food subcomponents: food at home decreased by
1.3 percent and food away from home decreased by 1.2
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov5 CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Chart 2
Percent change in Average Annual Expenditures by Income Quintile, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2010–2012
2010–2011
7.0
6.0
6.0
5.0
5.1
5.0
4.1
4.0
4.4
2.9
3.0
2.0
1.0
2011–2012
1.8
1.7
1.4
0.7
0.0
Lowest quintile
Second quintile
Third quintile
Fourth quintile
Highest quintile
Sources:
Source: U.S.
U.S.Bureau
BureauofofLabor
LaborStatistics.
Statistics.
percent. There was an increase in food expenditures for
all age groups except the 35- to 44-year-old and 65-yearand older-age groups between 2011 and 2012. The 25- to
34-year-old-age group had the highest percentage increase
in overall food expenditures, with spending rising 4.9
percent in 2012. Spending on food for the older age
groups decreased by 0.2 percent for the 65- to 74-yearold group and by 6.1 percent for the 75 years and older
group. This differs from 2011, where both of these age
groups increased spending on food.
6
Endnotes
1. For more information regarding the Conference Board Consumer
Confidence Survey, see: http://future.aae.wisc.edu/data/
monthly_values/by_area/998?area=US.
2. For more information on the Bureau of Economic Analysis
2012 real GDP release, see: http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/
national/gdp/2013/gdp4q12_3rd.htm.
3. In 2012, BLS published two education tables: education of
reference person and highest education level of any member.
Beginning in 2013, only the table, highest education level of any
member will be published.
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov
CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Statistical Tables
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov7 CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Table 1. Quintiles of income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer
Expenditure Survey, 2012
Item
Number of consumer units (in thousands) .......
Lower limit ........................................................
All
consumer
units
124,416
n.a.
Lowest
20
percent
Second
20
percent
24,927
n.a.
Third
20
percent
Fourth
20
percent
Highest
20
percent
24,863
$19,112
24,848
$36,134
24,836
$59,514
24,942
$96,228
Consumer unit characteristics:
Income before taxes .......................................
$65,596
$9,988
$27,585
$47,265
$75,952
$167,010
Age of reference person .................................
50.0
52.5
51.7
49.3
47.8
48.9
Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ........................................................
Children under 18 .........................................
Persons 65 and older ...................................
Earners .........................................................
Vehicles ........................................................
2.5
.6
.3
1.3
1.9
1.7
.4
.4
.5
1.0
2.2
.5
.5
.9
1.4
2.5
.6
.4
1.3
1.9
2.8
.7
.3
1.7
2.4
3.1
.8
.2
2.0
2.8
Percent homeowner .......................................
64
39
54
64
75
89
Average annual expenditures ...........................
$51,442
$22,154
$32,632
$43,004
$59,980
$99,368
Food ...............................................................
Food at home ...............................................
Cereals and bakery products .....................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....................
Dairy products ............................................
Fruits and vegetables .................................
Other food at home ....................................
Food away from home ..................................
6,599
3,921
538
852
419
731
1,380
2,678
3,502
2,416
341
553
243
440
839
1,086
4,524
2,991
407
672
312
558
1,041
1,533
5,798
3,633
503
805
377
670
1,279
2,164
7,831
4,593
638
974
498
831
1,652
3,239
11,334
5,968
800
1,258
664
1,156
2,090
5,366
Alcoholic beverages .......................................
451
152
260
363
559
922
Housing ..........................................................
Shelter ..........................................................
Owned dwellings ........................................
Rented dwellings ........................................
Other lodging ..............................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ................
Household operations ..................................
Housekeeping supplies ................................
Household furnishings and equipment .........
16,887
9,891
6,056
3,186
649
3,648
1,159
610
1,580
8,836
5,451
1,724
3,527
200
2,177
380
305
522
12,258
7,055
3,055
3,776
223
2,980
712
481
1,031
14,755
8,544
4,542
3,670
331
3,561
855
525
1,271
18,863
10,948
7,301
3,056
592
4,192
1,243
737
1,743
29,705
17,442
13,644
1,905
1,893
5,330
2,602
1,001
3,330
Apparel and services ......................................
1,736
759
1,132
1,313
2,121
3,352
Transportation ................................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .....................
Gasoline and motor oil .................................
Other vehicle expenses ................................
Public and other transportation ....................
8,998
3,210
2,756
2,490
542
3,447
993
1,222
1,051
181
5,462
1,603
2,013
1,615
231
8,181
2,781
2,745
2,290
365
11,549
4,479
3,494
3,033
543
16,344
6,193
4,305
4,457
1,389
Health care .....................................................
Entertainment .................................................
Personal care products and services .............
Reading ..........................................................
Education .......................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies .......
Miscellaneous .................................................
Cash contributions ..........................................
3,556
2,605
628
109
1,207
332
829
1,913
1,677
989
255
44
628
301
376
698
2,787
1,603
407
69
431
342
635
1,109
3,363
2,056
509
87
526
386
736
1,310
4,169
2,930
775
135
1,046
356
779
2,189
5,785
5,444
1,194
212
3,399
273
1,617
4,252
Personal insurance and pensions ..................
Life and other personal insurance ................
Pensions and Social Security .......................
5,591
353
5,238
489
97
392
1,612
139
1,473
3,623
232
3,391
6,678
391
6,287
15,534
903
14,631
n.a. Not applicable.
8
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov
CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Table 2. Income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2012
Item
All
consumer
units
Number of consumer units (in thousands) .......
Less
than
$5,000
$5,000
to
$9,999
$10,000
to
$14,999
$15,000
to
$19,999
$20,000
to
$29,999
$30,000
to
$39,999
$40,000
to
$49,999
$50,000
to
$69,999
$70,000
and
more
124,416
4,906
5,171
8,094
8,006
14,515
13,526
11,010
17,972
41,216
Income before taxes .......................................
$65,596
- $2,153
$8,010
$12,676
$17,483
$24,834
$34,700
$44,759
$59,283
$133,437
Age of reference person .................................
50.0
45.7
48.1
56.7
55.7
53.5
49.1
49.6
47.8
48.5
Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ........................................................
Children under 18 .........................................
Persons 65 and older ...................................
Earners .........................................................
Vehicles ........................................................
2.5
.6
.3
1.3
1.9
1.7
.4
.3
.5
.9
1.8
.5
.3
.5
.8
1.6
.3
.5
.4
.9
1.9
.5
.5
.6
1.2
2.1
.5
.5
.8
1.4
2.4
.6
.4
1.1
1.6
2.5
.6
.4
1.3
1.9
2.6
.6
.3
1.5
2.1
3.0
.8
.2
1.9
2.7
Percent homeowner .......................................
64
34
31
41
48
53
56
64
68
85
Average annual expenditures ...........................
$51,442
$23,462
$19,783
$20,188
$25,691
$30,869
$36,229
$41,567
$49,982
$85,410
Food ...............................................................
Food at home ...............................................
Cereals and bakery products .....................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....................
Dairy products ............................................
Fruits and vegetables .................................
Other food at home ....................................
Food away from home ..................................
6,599
3,921
538
852
419
731
1,380
2,678
3,747
2,322
321
518
208
426
849
1,426
3,035
2,232
315
552
223
376
766
803
3,211
2,235
313
527
218
408
768
977
3,959
2,762
388
599
300
514
961
1,197
4,271
2,877
400
626
299
536
1,016
1,394
4,962
3,216
421
752
337
599
1,108
1,746
5,698
3,621
521
791
374
655
1,281
2,077
6,518
3,910
549
825
414
719
1,403
2,608
10,205
5,560
750
1,185
614
1,055
1,956
4,645
Alcoholic beverages .......................................
451
149
148
117
193
219
335
352
420
804
Housing ..........................................................
Shelter ..........................................................
Owned dwellings ........................................
Rented dwellings ........................................
Other lodging ..............................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ................
Household operations ..................................
Housekeeping supplies ................................
Household furnishings and equipment .........
16,887
9,891
6,056
3,186
649
3,648
1,159
610
1,580
9,116
5,811
2,063
3,372
376
1,898
355
375
677
8,240
5,249
1,218
3,873
159
1,947
348
250
445
8,178
4,988
1,531
3,338
119
2,161
350
268
411
10,116
6,054
2,202
3,647
204
2,609
465
351
636
11,728
6,686
2,815
3,651
220
2,894
701
483
964
13,224
7,703
3,564
3,909
230
3,225
768
490
1,038
14,645
8,384
4,500
3,569
316
3,557
899
527
1,278
16,278
9,551
5,585
3,541
424
3,823
923
557
1,425
25,809
15,063
11,355
2,300
1,408
4,917
2,112
930
2,787
Apparel and services ......................................
1,736
928
763
593
947
1,064
1,163
1,398
1,559
2,932
Transportation ................................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .....................
Gasoline and motor oil .................................
Other vehicle expenses ................................
Public and other transportation ....................
8,998
3,210
2,756
2,490
542
3,917
1,161
912
262
2,748
774
1,054
724
196
2,987
697
1,125
1,030
136
4,128
1,100
1,558
1,285
185
4,991
1,425
1,896
1,450
220
6,311
1,751
2,337
1,941
281
7,531
2,197
2,651
2,365
318
9,928
3,855
3,091
2,533
449
14,781
5,711
4,034
3,968
1,068
Health care .....................................................
Entertainment .................................................
Personal care products and services .............
Reading ..........................................................
Education .......................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies .......
Miscellaneous .................................................
Cash contributions ..........................................
3,556
2,605
628
109
1,207
332
829
1,913
1,363
1,020
240
40
881
280
462
1,101
1,318
802
233
44
963
339
346
463
1,731
1,039
249
43
438
288
305
550
2,196
1,075
290
50
402
298
410
796
2,844
1,481
412
65
319
336
766
1,104
2,906
1,816
423
77
589
384
557
1,130
3,244
1,934
479
87
571
364
666
1,193
3,689
2,438
606
103
647
374
727
1,819
5,212
4,534
1,058
185
2,515
306
1,316
3,450
Personal insurance and pensions ..................
Life and other personal insurance ................
Pensions and Social Security .......................
5,591
353
5,238
218
76
142
340
78
263
458
115
343
830
106
724
1,271
133
1,137
2,353
188
2,164
3,407
209
3,198
4,875
266
4,609
12,302
722
11,580
Consumer unit characteristics:
11,582
1 Data are likely to have large sampling errors.
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov9 CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Table 3. Higher income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2012
Item
Number of consumer units (in thousands) .......
All
consumer
units
Less
than
$70,000
$70,000
to
$79,999
$80,000
to
$99,999
$100,000
and
more
$100,000
to
$119,999
$120,000
to
$149,999
$150,000
and
more
124,416
83,200
6,946
10,977
23,293
7,183
6,947
9,162
Income before taxes .......................................
$65,596
$31,989
$74,689
$88,974
$171,910
$108,977
$132,318
$251,270
Age of reference person .................................
50.0
50.8
47.9
48.1
48.9
48.7
48.5
49.4
Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ........................................................
Children under 18 .........................................
Persons 65 and older ...................................
Earners .........................................................
Vehicles ........................................................
2.5
.6
.3
1.3
1.9
2.2
.5
.4
1.0
1.5
2.8
.7
.3
1.7
2.4
2.9
.7
.3
1.8
2.5
3.2
.8
.2
2.0
2.8
3.1
.8
.2
2.0
2.8
3.2
.8
.2
2.1
2.8
3.2
.9
.2
2.0
2.8
Percent homeowner .......................................
64
54
75
80
90
87
89
92
Average annual expenditures ...........................
$51,442
$34,679
$59,984
$67,418
$101,423
$77,966
$89,521
$129,211
Food ...............................................................
Food at home ...............................................
Cereals and bakery products .....................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....................
Dairy products ............................................
Fruits and vegetables .................................
Other food at home ....................................
Food away from home ..................................
6,599
3,921
538
852
419
731
1,380
2,678
4,842
3,124
435
691
324
574
1,100
1,718
8,250
4,945
669
1,074
541
878
1,783
3,306
8,612
4,865
664
1,086
533
906
1,676
3,747
11,527
6,060
814
1,264
673
1,176
2,134
5,467
9,599
5,279
720
1,127
581
985
1,867
4,320
11,287
6,003
797
1,204
654
1,172
2,175
5,284
13,375
6,790
909
1,430
767
1,347
2,336
6,585
Alcoholic beverages .......................................
451
279
583
659
937
737
899
1,140
Housing ..........................................................
Shelter ..........................................................
Owned dwellings ........................................
Rented dwellings ........................................
Other lodging ..............................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ................
Household operations ..................................
Housekeeping supplies ................................
Household furnishings and equipment .........
16,887
9,891
6,056
3,186
649
3,648
1,159
610
1,580
12,476
7,328
3,431
3,625
272
3,020
687
454
986
18,456
10,437
6,721
3,065
650
4,149
1,194
841
1,835
21,039
12,293
8,888
2,708
697
4,432
1,454
787
2,073
30,243
17,748
13,898
1,881
1,969
5,374
2,696
1,021
3,404
23,410
13,796
10,653
2,072
1,070
4,795
1,732
836
2,252
27,330
15,837
12,588
1,752
1,498
5,158
2,297
988
3,050
37,877
22,296
17,436
1,828
3,032
5,992
3,757
1,208
4,624
Apparel and services ......................................
1,736
1,152
2,209
2,394
3,399
2,509
3,184
4,315
Transportation ................................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .....................
Gasoline and motor oil .................................
Other vehicle expenses ................................
Public and other transportation ....................
8,998
3,210
2,756
2,490
542
6,139
1,972
2,123
1,763
282
11,590
4,267
3,432
3,381
510
12,953
5,283
3,827
3,203
640
16,578
6,343
4,311
4,487
1,437
14,841
6,126
4,143
3,775
797
14,907
5,146
4,363
4,232
1,167
19,217
7,421
4,404
5,248
2,144
Health care .....................................................
Entertainment .................................................
Personal care products and services .............
Reading ..........................................................
Education .......................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies .......
Miscellaneous .................................................
Cash contributions ..........................................
3,556
2,605
628
109
1,207
332
829
1,913
2,737
1,655
417
72
560
344
588
1,151
4,167
3,112
898
141
1,045
384
794
1,878
4,535
3,202
822
148
1,230
357
946
2,381
5,843
5,578
1,213
216
3,559
259
1,648
4,422
5,277
3,934
1,049
162
1,917
311
1,313
2,683
5,448
4,874
1,110
204
2,462
250
1,392
3,196
6,593
7,456
1,422
267
5,681
225
2,108
6,716
Personal insurance and pensions ..................
Life and other personal insurance ................
Pensions and Social Security .......................
5,591
353
5,238
2,266
170
2,097
6,477
368
6,109
8,139
487
7,652
16,000
938
15,062
10,223
532
9,691
12,980
660
12,320
22,820
1,469
21,351
Consumer unit characteristics:
10
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov
CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Table 4. Age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2012
Item
Number of consumer units (in thousands) .......
All
consumer
units
Under
25
years
25-34
years
35-44
years
45-54
years
55-64
years
65 years
and older
65-74
years
75 years
and older
124,416
8,159
20,112
21,598
24,624
22,770
27,154
14,993
12,161
Income before taxes .......................................
$65,596
$36,639
$58,832
$78,169
$81,704
$77,507
$44,713
$53,521
$33,853
Age of reference person .................................
50.0
21.7
29.6
39.4
49.6
59.1
74.8
68.9
82.1
Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ........................................................
Children under 18 .........................................
Persons 65 and older ...................................
Earners .........................................................
Vehicles ........................................................
2.5
.6
.3
1.3
1.9
3.4
1.4
2.1
.2
.1
1.3
2.2
1.7
.1
1.4
.5
1.6
1.8
.1
1.4
.6
1.9
Percent homeowner .......................................
Consumer unit characteristics:
1.3
1.2
1.5
1.7
1.6
2.0
2.7
.6
.1
1.7
2.3
64
15
40
62
72
79
80
80
79
Average annual expenditures ...........................
$51,442
$31,411
$49,544
$58,069
$62,103
$55,636
$40,410
$45,968
$33,530
Food ...............................................................
Food at home ...............................................
Cereals and bakery products .....................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....................
Dairy products ............................................
Fruits and vegetables .................................
Other food at home ....................................
Food away from home ..................................
6,599
3,921
538
852
419
731
1,380
2,678
4,412
2,529
355
573
251
456
894
1,883
6,513
3,680
512
755
394
683
1,335
2,833
7,701
4,490
632
999
497
808
1,555
3,210
7,917
4,707
633
1,047
498
872
1,657
3,210
6,800
4,012
527
887
433
733
1,432
2,788
5,059
3,273
459
686
342
659
1,127
1,785
5,793
3,719
490
804
385
723
1,318
2,074
4,141
2,716
421
539
289
580
887
1,426
Alcoholic beverages .......................................
451
354
564
501
454
493
315
407
201
Housing ..........................................................
Shelter ..........................................................
Owned dwellings ........................................
Rented dwellings ........................................
Other lodging ..............................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ................
Household operations ..................................
Housekeeping supplies ................................
Household furnishings and equipment .........
16,887
9,891
6,056
3,186
649
3,648
1,159
610
1,580
10,957
7,285
1,307
5,748
230
1,879
538
303
952
17,157
10,458
4,552
5,603
304
3,130
1,338
538
1,693
19,858
11,849
7,676
3,691
483
4,077
1,559
618
1,755
19,076
11,244
7,625
2,712
907
4,304
1,080
668
1,780
17,247
9,728
6,991
1,788
949
3,992
1,029
736
1,763
13,833
7,605
5,101
1,828
676
3,340
1,076
597
1,215
15,076
8,372
5,970
1,557
845
3,595
1,004
670
1,436
12,298
6,659
4,030
2,162
467
3,025
1,164
507
942
Apparel and services ......................................
1,736
1,246
2,061
2,264
2,041
1,622
1,022
1,287
691
Transportation ................................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .....................
Gasoline and motor oil .................................
Other vehicle expenses ................................
Public and other transportation ....................
8,998
3,210
2,756
2,490
542
6,410
2,867
1,931
1,322
291
9,724
4,175
2,822
2,238
489
9,991
3,610
3,342
2,532
506
10,644
3,537
3,421
3,046
640
9,519
2,895
2,887
3,046
691
6,538
2,250
1,775
2,041
472
8,214
2,993
2,222
2,414
585
4,468
1,333
1,224
1,579
332
Health care .....................................................
Entertainment .................................................
Personal care products and services .............
Reading ..........................................................
Education .......................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies .......
Miscellaneous .................................................
Cash contributions ..........................................
3,556
2,605
628
109
1,207
332
829
1,913
1,024
1,257
360
44
1,886
262
372
488
2,047
2,382
574
72
1,021
351
660
1,104
2,948
3,232
694
93
1,050
358
876
1,469
3,687
3,051
707
118
2,426
431
924
2,430
4,377
2,911
696
133
1,118
372
908
2,353
5,118
2,020
569
142
236
193
902
2,454
5,259
2,413
652
148
245
249
1,031
2,289
4,944
1,532
465
136
223
124
743
2,658
Personal insurance and pensions ..................
Life and other personal insurance ................
Pensions and Social Security .......................
5,591
353
5,238
2,339
50
2,289
5,313
144
5,169
7,033
325
6,709
8,196
446
7,749
7,088
517
6,571
2,009
397
1,612
2,904
484
2,420
906
290
616
(1)
2.0
.4
(1)
2.8
1.1
(1)
(1)
1.5
1.3
.2
1.3
1 Value is less than or equal to 0.05.
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov11 CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Table 5. Size of consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2012
Two or more persons
Item
Number of consumer units (in thousands) .......
All
consumer
units
One
person
Two
persons
Total
Three
persons
Four
persons
Five or
more
persons
124,416
36,942
87,474
39,676
18,980
16,852
11,966
Income before taxes .......................................
$65,596
$34,102
$78,897
$72,885
$79,557
$90,184
$81,887
Age of reference person .................................
50.0
54.3
48.2
54.3
45.6
41.7
41.5
Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ........................................................
Children under 18 .........................................
Persons 65 and older ...................................
Earners .........................................................
Vehicles ........................................................
2.5
.6
.3
1.3
1.9
1.0
.3
.6
1.0
3.1
.9
.3
1.6
2.3
2.0
.1
.6
1.2
2.1
3.0
.7
.2
1.7
2.3
4.0
1.6
.1
1.9
2.4
5.7
2.8
.1
2.1
2.4
Percent homeowner .......................................
64
50
70
73
67
70
66
Average annual expenditures ...........................
$51,442
$30,716
$60,097
$55,068
$60,943
$67,622
$64,963
Food ...............................................................
Food at home ...............................................
Cereals and bakery products .....................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....................
Dairy products ............................................
Fruits and vegetables .................................
Other food at home ....................................
Food away from home ..................................
6,599
3,921
538
852
419
731
1,380
2,678
3,497
1,964
270
392
207
384
711
1,533
7,857
4,712
646
1,038
505
871
1,651
3,145
6,836
3,932
512
862
414
742
1,400
2,904
7,671
4,612
628
1,029
488
844
1,624
3,058
9,225
5,563
781
1,189
616
1,043
1,934
3,662
9,725
6,351
943
1,447
685
1,116
2,160
3,374
Alcoholic beverages .......................................
451
344
495
606
430
426
315
Housing ..........................................................
Shelter ..........................................................
Owned dwellings ........................................
Rented dwellings ........................................
Other lodging ..............................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ................
Household operations ..................................
Housekeeping supplies ................................
Household furnishings and equipment .........
16,887
9,891
6,056
3,186
649
3,648
1,159
610
1,580
11,532
7,437
3,412
3,715
311
2,291
640
316
848
19,138
10,926
7,172
2,963
791
4,221
1,378
729
1,883
17,158
9,786
6,268
2,619
898
3,736
1,052
688
1,896
19,781
11,468
7,297
3,360
811
4,304
1,569
703
1,737
21,548
12,240
8,608
2,906
726
4,683
1,943
773
1,908
21,280
12,001
7,951
3,553
497
5,049
1,360
845
2,024
Apparel and services ......................................
1,736
865
2,090
1,690
2,083
2,631
2,702
Transportation ................................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .....................
Gasoline and motor oil .................................
Other vehicle expenses ................................
Public and other transportation ....................
8,998
3,210
2,756
2,490
542
4,599
1,377
1,420
1,472
330
10,848
3,985
3,320
2,911
632
10,055
3,787
2,808
2,804
655
10,803
3,766
3,432
3,016
588
12,001
4,360
3,833
3,073
735
11,914
4,459
4,115
2,865
476
Health care .....................................................
Entertainment .................................................
Personal care products and services .............
Reading ..........................................................
Education .......................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies .......
Miscellaneous .................................................
Cash contributions ..........................................
3,556
2,605
628
109
1,207
332
829
1,913
2,339
1,485
380
83
675
251
647
1,484
4,069
3,071
730
121
1,432
366
906
2,094
4,399
2,829
712
139
917
339
917
2,459
3,845
2,939
681
109
1,954
401
938
2,073
3,730
3,667
807
108
2,124
338
950
1,631
3,810
3,249
765
95
1,339
439
756
1,567
Personal insurance and pensions ..................
Life and other personal insurance ................
Pensions and Social Security .......................
5,591
353
5,238
2,535
154
2,382
6,881
437
6,445
6,015
468
5,546
7,235
416
6,818
8,433
435
7,998
7,008
366
6,642
Consumer unit characteristics:
n.a.
n.a. Not applicable.
12
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov
CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Table 6. Composition of consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2012
Husband and wife consumer units
Husband and wife with children
Item
Husband
and wife
only
Total
Number of consumer units (in thousands) .......
Oldest
child
under 6
Total
Oldest
child
6 to 17
Oldest
child 18
or older
Other
husband
and wife
consumer
units
One
parent,
at least
one child
under 18
Single
person
and other
consumer
units
60,428
25,936
29,252
5,676
14,797
8,778
5,241
6,524
57,463
Income before taxes .......................................
$90,393
$81,717
$98,104
$85,200
$100,698
$102,074
$90,293
$34,194
$43,086
Age of reference person .................................
50.1
58.4
42.8
32.7
40.9
52.7
49.9
38.0
51.3
Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ........................................................
Children under 18 .........................................
Persons 65 and older ...................................
Earners .........................................................
Vehicles ........................................................
3.2
.9
.4
1.6
2.5
2.0
3.5
1.5
4.2
2.2
4.9
1.4
.6
2.3
2.9
2.9
1.7
.7
1.2
2.4
3.9
1.6
.1
1.9
2.6
1.0
1.2
1.7
.2
.3
.9
1.3
Percent homeowner .......................................
80
85
Average annual expenditures ...........................
$67,310
Food ...............................................................
Food at home ...............................................
Cereals and bakery products .....................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....................
Dairy products ............................................
Fruits and vegetables .................................
Other food at home ....................................
Food away from home ..................................
Consumer unit characteristics:
1.7
2.0
1.8
2.5
3.9
.6
.2
2.4
3.1
76
64
76
86
74
36
51
$61,285
$72,814
$64,103
$74,659
$75,286
$67,187
$38,667
$36,152
8,615
5,089
698
1,095
561
953
1,781
3,526
7,463
4,263
559
922
448
825
1,509
3,200
9,611
5,742
803
1,213
656
1,060
2,011
3,869
7,331
4,452
623
830
570
858
1,571
2,879
10,458
6,095
878
1,302
693
1,100
2,122
4,363
9,626
5,958
789
1,304
647
1,118
2,099
3,668
9,431
6,041
890
1,411
652
1,073
2,016
3,390
5,895
3,673
515
802
353
676
1,327
2,222
4,528
2,699
369
598
275
499
957
1,829
Alcoholic beverages .......................................
553
670
475
503
502
411
351
175
377
Housing ..........................................................
Shelter ..........................................................
Owned dwellings ........................................
Rented dwellings ........................................
Other lodging ..............................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ................
Household operations ..................................
Housekeeping supplies ................................
Household furnishings and equipment .........
20,771
11,739
8,493
2,220
1,025
4,487
1,562
815
2,169
18,258
10,213
7,284
1,712
1,217
3,997
1,106
772
2,170
22,980
13,149
9,641
2,568
940
4,752
2,004
856
2,220
23,621
13,106
8,851
3,751
504
3,867
3,891
713
2,044
23,432
13,616
10,036
2,619
961
4,797
1,785
925
2,309
21,803
12,389
9,486
1,717
1,186
5,250
1,151
829
2,183
20,803
11,417
8,066
2,797
554
5,430
1,354
820
1,782
14,593
8,586
3,505
4,872
209
3,298
1,244
477
989
13,061
8,095
3,782
4,010
302
2,806
725
407
1,027
Apparel and services ......................................
2,235
1,760
2,685
2,450
2,870
2,523
2,250
2,113
1,154
Transportation ................................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .....................
Gasoline and motor oil .................................
Other vehicle expenses ................................
Public and other transportation ....................
12,163
4,594
3,599
3,214
757
11,254
4,355
3,023
3,058
818
12,786
4,732
3,999
3,322
733
10,925
4,357
3,283
2,710
575
12,522
4,523
4,038
3,205
756
14,424
5,328
4,397
3,903
796
13,174
5,003
4,212
3,372
587
6,353
2,104
2,231
1,767
251
5,968
1,881
1,929
1,808
350
Health care .....................................................
Entertainment .................................................
Personal care products and services .............
Reading ..........................................................
Education .......................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies .......
Miscellaneous .................................................
Cash contributions ..........................................
4,828
3,554
804
145
1,706
314
954
2,550
5,407
3,228
781
172
985
282
987
3,117
4,310
3,948
835
126
2,417
317
950
2,078
3,381
3,023
678
96
793
236
936
1,705
4,167
4,530
908
125
2,240
299
956
1,955
5,150
3,563
812
148
3,767
401
948
2,528
4,854
3,013
769
117
1,313
457
814
2,375
1,704
1,846
518
50
846
248
946
720
2,430
1,689
454
79
724
360
683
1,378
Personal insurance and pensions ..................
Life and other personal insurance ................
Pensions and Social Security .......................
8,117
554
7,562
6,919
627
6,291
9,295
505
8,790
8,426
460
7,966
9,695
501
9,194
9,184
540
8,643
7,467
470
6,996
2,660
142
2,518
3,268
164
3,103
n.a.
(1)
(1)
(1)
1 Value is less than or equal to 0.05.
n.a. Not applicable.
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov13 CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Table 7. Number of earners in consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure
Survey, 2012
Single consumers
Item
Number of consumer units (in thousands) .......
All
consumer
units
No earner
Consumer units of two or more persons
One earner
No earner
One earner
Two earners
Three or
more
earners
124,416
15,943
20,999
11,753
26,075
39,702
9,944
Income before taxes .......................................
$65,596
$19,704
$45,033
$33,243
$63,836
$94,352
$110,647
Age of reference person .................................
50.0
67.6
44.1
64.6
47.8
43.9
47.1
Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ........................................................
Children under 18 .........................................
Persons 65 and older ...................................
Earners .........................................................
Vehicles ........................................................
2.5
.6
.3
1.3
1.9
1.0
2.4
.4
1.2
1.7
3.0
1.0
.3
1.0
1.9
3.1
.9
.1
2.0
2.4
4.4
1.0
.1
3.3
3.3
Percent homeowner .......................................
Consumer unit characteristics:
1.0
n.a.
n.a.
.7
.9
.1
1.0
1.2
64
57
45
74
63
72
79
Average annual expenditures ...........................
$51,442
$23,641
$36,030
$39,119
$52,654
$67,596
$75,840
Food ...............................................................
Food at home ...............................................
Cereals and bakery products .....................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....................
Dairy products ............................................
Fruits and vegetables .................................
Other food at home ....................................
Food away from home ..................................
6,599
3,921
538
852
419
731
1,380
2,678
2,953
1,961
272
406
203
385
696
991
3,890
1,966
269
383
210
383
722
1,923
5,757
3,909
555
866
396
740
1,351
1,848
7,142
4,405
605
980
473
812
1,536
2,737
8,512
4,885
664
1,056
532
897
1,737
3,627
10,372
6,220
851
1,434
653
1,166
2,116
4,152
Alcoholic beverages .......................................
451
125
500
312
408
607
537
Housing ..........................................................
Shelter ..........................................................
Owned dwellings ........................................
Rented dwellings ........................................
Other lodging ..............................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ................
Household operations ..................................
Housekeeping supplies ................................
Household furnishings and equipment .........
16,887
9,891
6,056
3,186
649
3,648
1,159
610
1,580
9,845
6,069
2,916
2,924
229
2,247
655
314
559
12,807
8,476
3,788
4,315
373
2,324
628
317
1,061
13,522
6,896
4,335
2,003
558
3,561
985
701
1,381
17,845
10,352
6,292
3,377
683
3,973
1,190
690
1,640
21,047
12,148
8,206
3,056
885
4,313
1,682
748
2,157
21,641
12,322
8,706
2,640
976
5,288
1,124
818
2,091
Apparel and services ......................................
1,736
548
1,094
1,192
1,961
2,330
2,718
Transportation ................................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .....................
Gasoline and motor oil .................................
Other vehicle expenses ................................
Public and other transportation ....................
8,998
3,210
2,756
2,490
542
3,009
702
905
1,157
245
5,806
1,889
1,811
1,711
395
6,199
2,078
1,930
1,863
328
9,227
3,318
2,807
2,520
582
12,260
4,566
3,690
3,270
735
15,113
5,668
4,830
3,905
709
Health care .....................................................
Entertainment .................................................
Personal care products and services .............
Reading ..........................................................
Education .......................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies .......
Miscellaneous .................................................
Cash contributions ..........................................
3,556
2,605
628
109
1,207
332
829
1,913
2,829
1,182
304
78
441
224
515
1,400
1,968
1,711
435
86
852
272
745
1,547
4,984
1,932
501
126
268
325
988
2,424
3,787
2,750
660
108
1,129
363
843
1,736
3,881
3,556
811
123
1,651
357
915
2,202
4,499
3,360
907
136
2,734
455
930
2,206
Personal insurance and pensions ..................
Life and other personal insurance ................
Pensions and Social Security .......................
5,591
353
5,238
188
145
142
4,318
160
4,158
1271
588
318
4,695
355
4,339
9,342
504
8,838
10,229
521
9,707
n.a.
n.a.
1 Data are likely to have large sampling errors.
n.a. Not applicable.
14
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov
CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Table 8. Housing tenure and type of area: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2012
Housing tenure
Item
Homeowner
All
consumer
units
Total
Number of consumer units (in thousands) .......
Type of area
Urban
Homeowner
with
mortgage
Homeowner
without
mortgage
Renter
Central
City
Total
Other
Urban
Rural
124,416
79,945
47,946
31,999
44,471
114,117
36,929
77,188
10,299
Income before taxes .......................................
$65,596
$80,330
$93,941
$59,937
$39,109
$66,877
$56,338
$71,919
$51,405
Age of reference person .................................
50.0
54.5
48.5
63.6
42.0
49.7
47.3
50.8
54.1
Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ........................................................
Children under 18 .........................................
Persons 65 and older ...................................
Earners .........................................................
Vehicles ........................................................
2.5
.6
.3
1.3
1.9
2.6
.6
.4
1.4
2.3
2.9
.8
.2
1.7
2.4
2.1
.3
.8
.9
2.1
2.3
.7
.2
1.1
1.2
2.5
.6
.3
1.3
1.8
2.3
.6
.3
1.2
1.4
2.6
.6
.4
1.3
2.1
2.4
.6
.4
1.2
2.5
Percent homeowner .......................................
64
100
100
100
63
47
70
82
Average annual expenditures ...........................
$51,442
$59,983
$68,228
$47,255
$36,076
$52,227
$45,115
$55,577
$42,699
Food ...............................................................
Food at home ...............................................
Cereals and bakery products .....................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....................
Dairy products ............................................
Fruits and vegetables .................................
Other food at home ....................................
Food away from home ..................................
6,599
3,921
538
852
419
731
1,380
2,678
7,465
4,357
599
937
473
809
1,539
3,108
7,920
4,579
631
994
499
845
1,610
3,341
6,565
3,899
531
819
419
733
1,396
2,666
5,037
3,134
428
700
322
591
1,094
1,903
6,652
3,929
540
850
420
739
1,381
2,723
5,929
3,496
474
773
365
675
1,210
2,433
6,975
4,119
569
884
444
766
1,456
2,856
5,981
3,827
515
883
409
642
1,378
2,154
Alcoholic beverages .......................................
451
513
563
417
339
465
477
460
290
Housing ..........................................................
Shelter ..........................................................
Owned dwellings ........................................
Rented dwellings ........................................
Other lodging ..............................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ................
Household operations ..................................
Housekeeping supplies ................................
Household furnishings and equipment .........
16,887
9,891
6,056
3,186
649
3,648
1,159
610
1,580
18,756
10,307
9,349
57
901
4,338
1,439
725
1,947
22,705
13,590
12,591
50
949
4,648
1,638
734
2,094
12,849
5,387
4,492
67
828
3,874
1,139
705
1,744
13,526
9,142
135
8,812
195
2,408
655
403
918
17,364
10,289
6,237
3,389
663
3,655
1,201
610
1,609
15,861
9,882
4,562
4,828
492
3,184
1,013
480
1,302
18,070
10,484
7,038
2,701
745
3,880
1,291
667
1,749
11,604
5,470
4,048
935
487
3,577
693
612
1,252
Apparel and services ......................................
1,736
1,877
2,125
1,411
1,481
1,764
1,770
1,761
1,419
Transportation ................................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .....................
Gasoline and motor oil .................................
Other vehicle expenses ................................
Public and other transportation ....................
8,998
3,210
2,756
2,490
542
10,658
3,863
3,188
2,962
645
12,110
4,569
3,584
3,286
671
8,468
2,805
2,593
2,463
607
6,013
2,038
1,979
1,638
357
9,011
3,218
2,717
2,505
571
6,949
2,166
2,099
2,086
598
9,991
3,721
3,012
2,699
559
8,862
3,128
3,189
2,323
222
Health care .....................................................
Entertainment .................................................
Personal care products and services .............
Reading ..........................................................
Education .......................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies .......
Miscellaneous .................................................
Cash contributions ..........................................
3,556
2,605
628
109
1,207
332
829
1,913
4,541
3,196
733
139
1,383
307
1,022
2,385
4,311
3,536
805
135
1,756
324
1,025
2,182
4,896
2,657
605
145
818
281
1,032
2,690
1,786
1,541
440
56
891
377
482
1,063
3,518
2,635
643
110
1,270
317
850
1,927
2,759
2,119
585
98
1,087
296
725
1,834
3,881
2,874
670
116
1,358
327
909
1,971
3,980
2,278
460
98
507
494
591
1,753
Personal insurance and pensions ..................
Life and other personal insurance ................
Pensions and Social Security .......................
5,591
353
5,238
7,007
478
6,529
8,733
539
8,194
4,421
386
4,035
3,045
127
2,917
5,700
361
5,339
4,627
257
4,370
6,213
410
5,803
4,381
264
4,117
Consumer unit characteristics:
n.a.
n.a. Not applicable.
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov15 CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Table 9. Race of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer
Expenditure Survey, 2012
White and all other races, and Asian
Item
Number of consumer units (in thousands) .......
All
consumer
units
White and
all other
races1
Total
Black or
AfricanAmerican
Asian
124,416
108,778
103,386
5,393
15,637
Income before taxes .......................................
$65,596
$68,253
$67,319
$86,156
$47,119
Age of reference person .................................
50.0
50.4
50.7
44.1
47.7
Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ........................................................
Children under 18 .........................................
Persons 65 and older ...................................
Earners .........................................................
Vehicles ........................................................
2.5
.6
.3
1.3
1.9
2.5
.6
.4
1.3
2.0
2.5
.6
.4
1.3
2.0
2.8
.7
.3
1.4
1.6
2.5
.8
.2
1.1
1.3
Percent homeowner .......................................
64
67
68
54
43
Average annual expenditures ...........................
$51,442
$53,290
$52,870
$61,399
$38,627
Food ...............................................................
Food at home ...............................................
Cereals and bakery products .....................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....................
Dairy products ............................................
Fruits and vegetables .................................
Other food at home ....................................
Food away from home ..................................
6,599
3,921
538
852
419
731
1,380
2,678
6,875
4,059
557
855
443
760
1,443
2,816
6,822
4,044
556
846
446
747
1,448
2,777
7,980
4,367
584
1,034
372
1,037
1,339
3,613
4,701
2,973
404
836
254
530
949
1,728
Alcoholic beverages .......................................
451
486
492
360
212
Housing ..........................................................
Shelter ..........................................................
Owned dwellings ........................................
Rented dwellings ........................................
Other lodging ..............................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ................
Household operations ..................................
Housekeeping supplies ................................
Household furnishings and equipment .........
16,887
9,891
6,056
3,186
649
3,648
1,159
610
1,580
17,246
10,099
6,402
2,994
702
3,666
1,209
632
1,641
17,058
9,904
6,299
2,902
703
3,677
1,195
638
1,643
20,821
13,841
8,380
4,770
691
3,456
1,469
497
1,558
14,395
8,441
3,645
4,521
275
3,525
810
459
1,160
Apparel and services ......................................
1,736
1,741
1,710
2,391
1,697
Transportation ................................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .....................
Gasoline and motor oil .................................
Other vehicle expenses ................................
Public and other transportation ....................
8,998
3,210
2,756
2,490
542
9,322
3,362
2,817
2,571
571
9,280
3,363
2,825
2,566
525
10,117
3,339
2,659
2,658
1,461
6,751
2,155
2,329
1,927
340
Health care .....................................................
Entertainment .................................................
Personal care products and services .............
Reading ..........................................................
Education .......................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies .......
Miscellaneous .................................................
Cash contributions ..........................................
3,556
2,605
628
109
1,207
332
829
1,913
3,779
2,761
637
119
1,289
344
867
1,992
3,804
2,784
640
120
1,184
354
868
2,025
3,285
2,303
594
97
3,295
161
849
1,356
2,013
1,526
565
45
641
245
563
1,358
Personal insurance and pensions ..................
Life and other personal insurance ................
Pensions and Social Security .......................
5,591
353
5,238
5,832
357
5,475
5,730
357
5,373
7,789
361
7,428
3,914
321
3,593
Consumer unit characteristics:
1 All other races includes Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native, and
approximately 1 percent reporting more than one race.
16
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov
CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Table 10. Hispanic or Latino origin of reference person: Average annual expenditures and
characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2012
Not Hispanic or Latino
Item
Number of consumer units (in thousands) .......
All
consumer
units
Hispanic
or Latino
White and
all other
races
Total
Black
or
AfricanAmerican
124,416
15,597
108,819
93,385
15,434
Income before taxes .......................................
$65,596
$48,066
$68,109
$71,552
$47,277
Age of reference person .................................
50.0
42.8
51.1
51.6
47.7
Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ........................................................
Children under 18 .........................................
Persons 65 and older ...................................
Earners .........................................................
Vehicles ........................................................
2.5
.6
.3
1.3
1.9
3.3
1.1
.2
1.6
1.6
2.4
.5
.4
1.2
1.9
2.3
.5
.4
1.3
2.0
2.5
.8
.2
1.1
1.3
Percent homeowner .......................................
64
46
67
71
43
Average annual expenditures ...........................
$51,442
$42,268
$52,757
$55,097
$38,634
Food ...............................................................
Food at home ...............................................
Cereals and bakery products .....................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....................
Dairy products ............................................
Fruits and vegetables .................................
Other food at home ....................................
Food away from home ..................................
6,599
3,921
538
852
419
731
1,380
2,678
6,570
4,116
534
1,037
427
820
1,298
2,454
6,603
3,893
538
826
418
718
1,392
2,710
6,924
4,050
561
825
446
750
1,468
2,875
4,678
2,954
402
835
251
528
938
1,724
Alcoholic beverages .......................................
451
338
467
510
212
Housing ..........................................................
Shelter ..........................................................
Owned dwellings ........................................
Rented dwellings ........................................
Other lodging ..............................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ................
Household operations ..................................
Housekeeping supplies ................................
Household furnishings and equipment .........
16,887
9,891
6,056
3,186
649
3,648
1,159
610
1,580
15,061
9,215
4,185
4,843
187
3,325
728
568
1,225
17,149
9,987
6,324
2,949
715
3,695
1,221
616
1,631
17,605
10,244
6,763
2,694
787
3,721
1,288
642
1,711
14,393
8,432
3,664
4,491
278
3,535
815
462
1,149
Apparel and services ......................................
1,736
2,030
1,694
1,694
1,695
Transportation ................................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .....................
Gasoline and motor oil .................................
Other vehicle expenses ................................
Public and other transportation ....................
8,998
3,210
2,756
2,490
542
8,306
2,890
2,727
2,294
395
9,097
3,256
2,760
2,518
563
9,485
3,439
2,831
2,615
600
6,755
2,154
2,328
1,934
339
Health care .....................................................
Entertainment .................................................
Personal care products and services .............
Reading ..........................................................
Education .......................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies .......
Miscellaneous .................................................
Cash contributions ..........................................
3,556
2,605
628
109
1,207
332
829
1,913
1,893
1,588
556
40
488
157
553
782
3,795
2,751
639
119
1,310
357
868
2,075
4,088
2,953
651
132
1,423
375
919
2,192
2,024
1,531
565
45
631
246
561
1,364
Personal insurance and pensions ..................
Life and other personal insurance ................
Pensions and Social Security .......................
5,591
353
5,238
3,905
112
3,793
5,833
387
5,446
6,146
398
5,749
3,934
324
3,610
Consumer unit characteristics:
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov17 CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Table 11. Region of residence: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer
Expenditure Survey, 2012
Item
Number of consumer units (in thousands) .......
All
consumer
units
Northeast
Midwest
South
West
124,416
22,459
27,584
46,338
28,035
Income before taxes .......................................
$65,596
$72,036
$65,217
$60,219
$69,700
Age of reference person .................................
50.0
50.9
49.6
50.3
49.3
Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ........................................................
Children under 18 .........................................
Persons 65 and older ...................................
Earners .........................................................
Vehicles ........................................................
2.5
.6
.3
1.3
1.9
2.4
.6
.4
1.3
1.6
2.4
.6
.3
1.3
2.0
2.5
.6
.3
1.2
1.9
2.6
.6
.3
1.4
2.0
Percent homeowner .......................................
64
62
68
66
59
Average annual expenditures ...........................
$51,442
$55,884
$48,602
$47,757
$56,782
Food ...............................................................
Food at home ...............................................
Cereals and bakery products .....................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....................
Dairy products ............................................
Fruits and vegetables .................................
Other food at home ....................................
Food away from home ..................................
6,599
3,921
538
852
419
731
1,380
2,678
6,962
4,056
586
898
448
798
1,327
2,906
6,393
3,906
556
797
421
728
1,405
2,486
6,156
3,652
488
839
383
637
1,304
2,504
7,246
4,272
564
893
452
836
1,526
2,974
Alcoholic beverages .......................................
451
535
437
375
524
Housing ..........................................................
Shelter ..........................................................
Owned dwellings ........................................
Rented dwellings ........................................
Other lodging ..............................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ................
Household operations ..................................
Housekeeping supplies ................................
Household furnishings and equipment .........
16,887
9,891
6,056
3,186
649
3,648
1,159
610
1,580
19,745
12,274
7,480
3,938
856
3,979
1,435
597
1,460
15,012
8,530
5,644
2,282
604
3,455
973
588
1,466
15,280
8,298
5,147
2,617
534
3,704
1,030
609
1,640
19,103
11,953
6,823
4,416
715
3,481
1,333
644
1,691
Apparel and services ......................................
1,736
1,833
1,564
1,662
1,950
Transportation ................................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .....................
Gasoline and motor oil .................................
Other vehicle expenses ................................
Public and other transportation ....................
8,998
3,210
2,756
2,490
542
8,857
2,906
2,503
2,612
836
8,604
3,216
2,713
2,242
432
9,080
3,413
2,863
2,434
371
9,367
3,115
2,824
2,730
698
Health care .....................................................
Entertainment .................................................
Personal care products and services .............
Reading ..........................................................
Education .......................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies .......
Miscellaneous .................................................
Cash contributions ..........................................
3,556
2,605
628
109
1,207
332
829
1,913
3,572
2,723
635
134
1,789
354
938
1,798
3,844
2,550
572
107
1,180
341
808
1,851
3,234
2,407
628
82
851
364
665
1,699
3,795
2,894
680
137
1,358
250
1,033
2,417
Personal insurance and pensions ..................
Life and other personal insurance ................
Pensions and Social Security .......................
5,591
353
5,238
6,009
332
5,677
5,339
334
5,005
5,273
393
4,879
6,030
320
5,710
Consumer unit characteristics:
18
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov
CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Table 12. Occupation of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2012
Wage and salary earners
Selfemployed
workers
Managers
and
professionals
Technical,
sales and
clerical
workers
6,058
76,929
31,412
19,690
13,335
4,097
8,396
22,812
18,617
Income before taxes .......................................
$86,024
$78,173
$107,270
$63,123
$52,945
$60,792
$53,151
$38,015
$40,778
Age of reference person .................................
49.6
43.9
45.1
43.2
42.6
42.6
43.9
74.0
46.0
Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ........................................................
Children under 18 .........................................
Persons 65 and older ...................................
Earners .........................................................
Vehicles ........................................................
2.6
.6
.2
1.8
2.1
2.6
.7
.1
1.7
2.0
2.6
.7
.1
1.7
2.2
2.5
.6
.1
1.7
1.9
2.7
.8
.1
1.7
1.8
2.8
.8
.1
1.8
2.4
2.7
.8
.1
1.7
2.0
1.7
.1
1.2
.2
1.6
2.8
.9
.2
.6
1.5
Percent homeowner .......................................
71
63
73
58
49
64
57
80
49
Average annual expenditures ...........................
$61,645
$57,431
$73,079
$49,627
$44,275
$50,035
$41,511
$38,699
$39,195
Food ...............................................................
Food at home ...............................................
Cereals and bakery products .....................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....................
Dairy products ............................................
Fruits and vegetables .................................
Other food at home ....................................
Food away from home ..................................
7,412
4,447
558
995
471
896
1,525
2,966
7,209
4,079
560
877
439
757
1,446
3,129
8,695
4,631
633
934
512
884
1,668
4,064
6,610
3,799
523
820
413
678
1,365
2,811
5,790
3,572
512
809
366
673
1,213
2,218
6,847
4,179
589
1,025
419
749
1,398
2,668
5,399
3,413
438
832
342
616
1,184
1,986
5,084
3,292
451
698
341
646
1,156
1,792
5,744
3,885
548
895
418
680
1,344
1,859
Alcoholic beverages .......................................
645
528
679
484
361
402
371
325
242
Housing ..........................................................
Shelter ..........................................................
Owned dwellings ........................................
Rented dwellings ........................................
Other lodging ..............................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ................
Household operations ..................................
Housekeeping supplies ................................
Household furnishings and equipment .........
18,696
11,084
7,350
2,808
926
3,781
1,194
708
1,930
18,402
10,936
6,735
3,494
707
3,802
1,287
616
1,762
22,990
13,747
9,380
3,170
1,197
4,234
1,914
744
2,351
16,153
9,599
5,358
3,792
449
3,632
963
539
1,420
14,854
8,980
4,431
4,223
327
3,381
809
491
1,193
15,620
8,484
5,321
2,885
278
3,658
763
563
2,151
13,504
7,857
4,417
3,144
296
3,322
715
526
1,085
13,534
7,352
4,913
1,835
605
3,317
1,012
630
1,223
14,174
8,292
4,228
3,695
370
3,377
800
536
1,169
Apparel and services ......................................
2,050
1,995
2,457
1,872
1,371
1,999
1,462
1,006
1,482
Transportation ................................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .....................
Gasoline and motor oil .................................
Other vehicle expenses ................................
Public and other transportation ....................
9,540
2,848
3,076
3,051
565
10,470
3,894
3,166
2,789
621
12,010
4,346
3,416
3,264
983
9,660
3,751
2,937
2,550
422
9,221
3,599
2,793
2,449
381
10,524
3,637
3,838
2,741
308
8,593
3,129
3,035
2,158
270
6,082
1,942
1,731
1,977
431
6,340
2,059
2,210
1,727
344
Health care .....................................................
Entertainment .................................................
Personal care products and services .............
Reading ..........................................................
Education .......................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies .......
Miscellaneous .................................................
Cash contributions ..........................................
4,084
3,796
821
122
1,304
341
1,071
2,108
3,280
2,871
685
110
1,478
339
858
1,916
4,169
3,852
882
161
2,284
234
1,172
2,949
2,889
2,408
607
86
1,017
371
694
1,230
2,464
1,992
541
75
970
368
606
1,216
2,811
2,689
562
76
669
589
757
1,163
2,393
1,749
424
46
739
489
519
1,139
5,029
1,960
541
136
214
199
958
2,467
2,726
1,935
446
71
1,277
460
474
1,155
Personal insurance and pensions ..................
Life and other personal insurance ................
Pensions and Social Security .......................
9,656
627
9,029
7,291
370
6,920
10,545
536
10,009
5,546
271
5,275
4,446
218
4,228
5,326
209
5,118
4,683
304
4,379
1,166
316
849
2,667
235
2,432
Number of consumer units (in thousands) .......
Service
workers
Construction
workers and
mechanics
Operators,
fabricators
and
laborers
All other,
including
not
reporting
Total
wage and
salary
earners
Item
Retired
Consumer unit characteristics:
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov19 CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Table 13. Highest education level of any member: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey,
2012
Less than college graduate
Item
Number of consumer units (in thousands) .......
All
consumer
units
Total
College graduate
Less
than
high
school
graduate
High
school
graduate
High
school
graduate
with
some
college
Associate’s
degree
Master’s,
Bachelor’s professional,
degree
doctoral
degree
Total
124,416
76,789
10,571
26,601
25,793
13,825
47,626
28,069
19,557
Income before taxes .......................................
$65,596
$44,603
$25,159
$39,357
$48,224
$62,809
$99,444
$85,802
$119,023
Age of reference person .................................
50.0
50.7
56.2
53.0
47.5
48.3
48.9
47.4
51.1
Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ........................................................
Children under 18 .........................................
Persons 65 and older ...................................
Earners .........................................................
Vehicles ........................................................
2.5
.6
.3
1.3
1.9
2.4
.6
.4
1.2
1.7
2.2
.7
.5
.7
1.1
2.4
.6
.4
1.0
1.7
2.4
.6
.3
1.2
1.8
2.7
.7
.3
1.5
2.2
2.6
.6
.3
1.5
2.1
2.5
.6
.3
1.5
2.1
2.7
.6
.4
1.5
2.2
Percent homeowner .......................................
64
58
47
59
56
68
74
71
79
Average annual expenditures ...........................
$51,442
$39,107
$24,582
$34,786
$43,041
$50,836
$71,151
$63,135
$82,606
Food ...............................................................
Food at home ...............................................
Cereals and bakery products .....................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....................
Dairy products ............................................
Fruits and vegetables .................................
Other food at home ....................................
Food away from home ..................................
6,599
3,921
538
852
419
731
1,380
2,678
5,409
3,442
473
802
349
608
1,211
1,967
3,913
2,862
383
672
288
550
969
1,051
4,944
3,263
453
812
322
567
1,109
1,682
5,749
3,542
481
772
363
626
1,299
2,207
6,658
3,980
554
926
414
687
1,399
2,678
8,435
4,654
637
930
526
919
1,641
3,782
7,928
4,379
592
911
488
848
1,541
3,549
9,143
5,032
700
957
577
1,017
1,781
4,111
Alcoholic beverages .......................................
451
292
108
236
350
416
696
650
759
Housing ..........................................................
Shelter ..........................................................
Owned dwellings ........................................
Rented dwellings ........................................
Other lodging ..............................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ................
Household operations ..................................
Housekeeping supplies ................................
Household furnishings and equipment .........
16,887
9,891
6,056
3,186
649
3,648
1,159
610
1,580
13,197
7,532
3,998
3,226
308
3,318
726
516
1,106
9,388
5,521
2,087
3,362
72
2,541
390
382
554
12,143
6,871
3,509
3,150
212
3,280
600
475
918
14,241
8,168
4,424
3,373
371
3,333
845
564
1,331
16,146
9,155
5,607
2,995
553
3,957
1,003
592
1,439
22,815
13,693
9,373
3,122
1,198
4,181
1,856
753
2,331
20,230
12,103
8,022
3,213
867
3,935
1,495
676
2,021
26,512
15,976
11,312
2,991
1,672
4,534
2,373
859
2,770
Apparel and services ......................................
1,736
1,329
1,042
1,083
1,540
1,588
2,366
2,226
2,565
Transportation ................................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .....................
Gasoline and motor oil .................................
Other vehicle expenses ................................
Public and other transportation ....................
8,998
3,210
2,756
2,490
542
7,381
2,621
2,466
2,041
253
3,835
932
1,549
1,191
162
6,225
1,880
2,318
1,839
187
8,422
3,290
2,557
2,244
331
10,342
4,090
3,282
2,666
305
11,594
4,161
3,223
3,202
1,008
10,817
3,827
3,156
3,062
773
12,710
4,641
3,319
3,405
1,345
Health care .....................................................
Entertainment .................................................
Personal care products and services .............
Reading ..........................................................
Education .......................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies .......
Miscellaneous .................................................
Cash contributions ..........................................
3,556
2,605
628
109
1,207
332
829
1,913
2,885
1,901
468
69
564
426
654
1,106
2,004
1,134
292
29
120
331
307
599
2,823
1,630
388
53
214
497
691
1,012
2,949
2,118
530
81
892
421
728
1,214
3,560
2,571
627
107
959
372
703
1,473
4,635
3,725
881
175
2,244
179
1,110
3,213
4,196
3,220
769
135
1,792
219
926
2,411
5,263
4,443
1,039
232
2,891
123
1,373
4,364
Personal insurance and pensions ..................
Life and other personal insurance ................
Pensions and Social Security .......................
5,591
353
5,238
3,425
205
3,220
1,481
107
1,374
2,847
203
2,645
3,805
207
3,598
5,313
281
5,032
9,084
591
8,493
7,617
479
7,139
11,188
752
10,436
Consumer unit characteristics:
20
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov
CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
Technical Notes
Brief description of the Consumer
Expenditure Survey
The current CE began in 1980 and has been conducted
continually since then. Its principal objective is to collect
information on the buying habits of Americans. Consumer
expenditure data are used in a variety of research endeavors
by government, business, labor, and academic analysts. In
addition, the data are required for the regular revision of
the CPI market basket every 2 years. The survey, which
is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau
of Labor Statistics (BLS), consists of two components: A
diary (or recordkeeping) survey completed by participating
consumer units for two consecutive 1-week periods and an
interview survey by which expenditures of consumer units
are obtained during five interviews conducted at 3-month
intervals. Results in this report are based on integrated
data from both surveys. Survey participants record dollar
amounts for goods and services purchased during the
reporting period, regardless of whether payment is made at
the time of purchase. Expenditure amounts include all sales
and excise taxes for items purchased by the consumer unit.
All business-related expenditures are excluded from both
surveys, as are expenditures for which the consumer unit is
reimbursed.
Each component of the survey queries an independent
sample of CUs that are representative of the U.S.
population. For the Diary Survey, about 7,000 CUs are
sampled each year. Each CU keeps a diary for two 1-week
periods, yielding approximately 14,000 diaries a year.
The Interview sample, selected on a rotating panel basis,
surveys about 7,000 consumer units each quarter. The
rotating panel consists of some CUs dropping out of the
survey each quarter, while other CUs come into the survey.
Each CU is interviewed once per quarter, for 5 consecutive
quarters. Data are collected on an ongoing basis in 91 areas
of the United States. The Interview Survey is designed to
capture expenditure data that respondents can reasonably
recall for a period of 3 months or longer. In general, these
expenditures are relatively large, such as expenditures for
real property, automobiles, and major appliances, or they
occur on a regular basis, such as rent, utility payments, and
insurance premiums. The Interview Survey also collects
data on expenditures incurred on leisure trips. Including
global estimates of spending for food, it is estimated
that about 95 percent of expenditures are covered in the
Interview Survey. Nonprescription drugs, household
supplies, and personal care items are excluded. The Diary
Survey is designed to capture expenditures on small,
frequently purchased items that are normally difficult for
respondents to recall buying. Detailed records of expenses
are kept for food and beverages—consumed either at
home or in eating places—and for tobacco, housekeeping
supplies, nonprescription drugs, and personal care products
and services. Expenditures incurred by members of the
consumer unit while away from home overnight or longer
are excluded from the Diary Survey. Although this survey
was designed to collect information on expenditures that
could not be recalled easily over an extended period,
respondents are asked to report all expenses (except those
spent while traveling overnight) that the CU incurs during
the survey week.
Integrated data from the BLS Diary and Interview Surveys
provide a complete accounting of consumer expenditures
and income that neither survey is designed to do on its
own. Data on some expenditure items are collected in
only one of the surveys. For example, the Diary Survey
does not collect information on reimbursements, whereas
the Interview Survey does. Examples of expenditures for
which reimbursements are excluded from the Diary Survey
are medical care; automobile repair; and construction,
repairs, alterations, and maintenance of property. For
items that are unique to one survey or the other, the choice
of which survey to use as the source of data is obvious.
However, there is considerable overlap in coverage
between the surveys. Consequently, integrating the data
involves determining the appropriate survey component
from which to select expenditure items. When data are
available from both surveys, the more reliable of the two
(as determined by statistical methods) is selected. As a
result, some items are selected from the Interview Survey,
others from the Diary Survey. Because of the overlap in the
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov21 CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
item coverage between the two surveys, the survey source
is reviewed every 2 years and statistical methods are used
to select the best source. See “CE Source Selection for
Publication Tables” in the Consumer Expenditure Survey
Anthology, 2011 (BLS Report 1030) for source selection
details.
Sampling errors occur because the data are collected from
a sample representing the population, rather than from
the entire population. Nonsampling errors result from the
inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct
information, differences in interviewers’ abilities, mistakes
in recording or coding, and other processing errors.
The population and spending coverage of the CE
differs from that of the CPI. The CE data cover the total
population including rural areas, whereas the CPI covers
only the population in urban and metropolitan areas.
Definitions of components also differ between the CE and
CPI. For example, homeownership is treated differently
in the two surveys: actual expenditures of homeownership
are reported in the CE, whereas the CPI uses a rentalequivalence approach that estimates the change in the cost
of obtaining, in the rental marketplace, services equivalent
to those provided by owner-occupied homes.
Tables and data
Interpreting the data
Expenditures are averages for consumer units with
specified characteristics, regardless of whether a particular
unit incurred an expense for a specific item during the
recordkeeping period. The average expenditure for an
item may be considerably lower than the expenditure by
the CUs that purchased the item. The less frequently an
item is purchased, the greater the difference between the
average for all CUs and the average for those purchasing
the item. Similarly, an individual CU may spend more
or less than the average, depending on its particular
characteristics. Factors such as income, age of family
members, geographic location, and personal preference
also influence expenditures. Furthermore, even within
groups with similar characteristics, the distribution of
expenditures varies substantially. These points should
be considered in relating reported averages to individual
circumstances. Users of these survey data should also
keep in mind that prices for many goods and services have
risen since the survey was conducted. For example, all
prices, as measured by the CPI-U, increased by 2.3 percent
between 2012 (annual average index) and February 2014
(not seasonally adjusted). In addition, sample surveys are
subject to two types of error: sampling and nonsampling.
22
Tables in this report include integrated data from both
the Diary and Interview components of the CE, enabling
data users to associate the full range of expenditures with
consumers’ demographic characteristics. Tables show data
classified by income quintile, income class, age of the
reference person, size of the consumer unit, composition
of the consumer unit, number of earners, housing tenure,
type of area (urban or rural), race, Hispanic origin, region
of residence, occupation, and education.3 These are the
same classifications published in previous BLS reports and
bulletins. Tables for the aforementioned classifications,
but with more detail than is given in this report, can be
accessed on the CE page of the BLS website (http://www.
bls.gov/cex). Also available are tables showing average
annual data over a 2-year period for 1) income before
taxes, cross-tabulated by age, consumer unit size, or region;
2) single consumers by gender, cross-tabulated by either
income or age; and 3) selected metropolitan statistical
areas (MSAs). Annual data are available for 1984–2012.
Other survey information available on the website includes
answers to frequently asked questions, a glossary of terms,
and order forms for survey products. Beginning with the
2000 data, estimates of standard errors for integrated Diary
and Interview Survey data are also available.
Other available data
The 2012 CE public-use microdata, including Interview
Survey data, Diary Survey data, and paradata (information
about the survey process), are now available on the CE
website for free electronic download. The Interview
files contain expenditure data in two different formats:
MTBI files that present monthly values in an itemcoding framework based on the CPI pricing scheme, and
EXPN files that organize expenditures by the section of
the Interview Survey’s questionnaire in which they are
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov
CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2012
collected. Expenditure values on EXPN files cover different
periods depending on the specific questions asked, and the
files also contain relevant non-expenditure information not
found on the MTBI files. Past releases of post 1995 CE
public-use microdata for purchase will become available
on the CE website for download. The 2004 to 2011 releases
are already available online. Prior releases will be posted
incrementally online in reverse chronological order through
the 1996 release. For releases prior to 1996 and those not
yet available online, users can continue to purchase USB
flash drives using the public-use microdata order form
(http:/www.bls.gov/cex/pumdhome.htm). All future
releases of public-use microdata will solely be available
online for free download.
The Consumer Expenditure program publishes CE articles
in BEYOND THE NUMBERS. These reports include
analyses of expenditure data as they apply to various
topics of interest, as well as methodological and research
articles pertaining to a number of survey topics. The most
recent of these reports, New education classification better
reflects income and spending patterns in the Consumer
Expenditure Survey. Additional CE analyses also are
presented in articles in the Monthly Labor Review. These
reports can be found at http://www.bls.gov/cex/csxart.
htm. For more detailed information on the availability
of current and earlier data, call (202) 691-6900; Email:
[email protected]. Online at http://www.bls.gov/cex., or
contact the Division of Consumer Expenditure Survey,
Office of Prices and Living Conditions, Bureau of Labor
Statistics, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC
20212-0001.
Information in this publication is in the public domain
and, with appropriate credit, may be reproduced without
permission. Information in this report is available upon
request to sensory-impaired individuals: Voice phone:
(202) 691-5200, Federal Relay Service: 1-800-877-8339.
BLS Reports │ March 2014 • www.bls.gov23